NEW YORK – The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said that an armed group opened fire on a convoy transporting Eritrean asylum-seekers in eastern Sudan and abducted 14 of them.
The UNHCR in a statement on Saturday in New York urged the Sudanese government to spare no effort in apprehending those responsible and bringing them to account.
It the incident occurred on Thursday when an armed group in a pickup truck opened fire on a convoy organised by the Sudanese Commissioner for Refugees (COR), which was transporting 49 Eritrean asylum-seekers.
It stated that 14 asylum-seekers were kidnapped, comprising seven unaccompanied children, including six boys and one girl, five women and two men.
It also stated that six of the asylum-seekers suffered from minor injuries when they jumped from the truck in an attempt to escape.
According to the statement, UNHCR is providing support to the survivors and is in contact with the Sudanese authorities, who are investigating the case.
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It urged that all movements of asylum-seekers be systematically accompanied by a security escort.
The statement further stated that prior to the incident there had been a reduction in kidnappings and trafficking.
It attributed this development to the ongoing cooperation between UNHCR and the Sudanese government. (PANA/NAN)
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